The world title fight between Jai Opetaia and Ellis Zorro on the star-studded boxing show in Saudi Arabia in December appears to be in jeopardy.
‘The Day of Reckoning’ card on 23 December features three huge heavyweight title fights with Anthony Joshua taking on Otto Wallin with rival Deontay Wilder in action against Joseph Parker. Daniel Dubois is also part of the bill, going toe-to-toe with Jarrell Miller.
In a card dominated by heavyweight fights, there are scheduled to be two world title contests featuring two British fighters. Dmitry Bivol puts his WBA light-heavyweight title on the line against Lyndon Arthur with south Londoner Ellis stepping to challenge IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia.
However, Opetaia could now be on the verge of being stripped of his world title. The Australian added another sensational knockout to his record against another Briton in Jordan Thompson in the summer, looking to do the same against Zorro in Saudi.
However, the IBF insist his next bout should be a mandatory title defence against Mairis Briedis, the man he took the belt from last year.
Opetaia was given an exemption to fight Thompson earlier this year in London with the sanctioning body not willing to do the same with Zorro, who does not hold a world ranking with them.
The IBF have therefore informed Opetaia his next fight must be against mandatory challenger Briedis – or face having his world title taken from him.
‘We’ve made it clear to Jai’s team that he cannot fight Ellis Zorro for the title,’ the IBF said through a spokesperson, Fox Sports report.
‘We had already given Jai an exemption to fight Jordan Thompson in his last fight, so he can’t get another exemption to fight Zorro, who does not have a world ranking.
‘In our rules, it can’t be done. He can’t have back-to-back exemptions. If we break the rules for Jai, it opens the floodgates for everyone else.
‘The IBF have notified Jai’s team that he cannot fight Zorro — we’ve said his next fight has to be a mandatory against Briedis. If Jai Opetaia goes ahead and fights Zorro, he will be stripped of his IBF world title.’
However, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis claims Briedis and his team are happy for the champion to fight Zorro first.
Zorro, 31, is undefeated in his 17 professional fights and is preparing for the biggest fight of his career.
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